NHL Midseason Report Card: A Look At Ivan Barbashev

Remember when Golden Knights fans were freaking out over not getting Ivan Barbashev re-signed? Jack Eichel was going to lose his linemate and all chaos would've ensued. Buildings would've collapsed, with the entire Las Vegas Strip crumbling to the ground. Lake Mead would've dried up, revealing more obscurities from within. We'll need more concrete answers.

Well, the Vegas Golden Knights got Ivan Barbashev back this past summer. Getting the Russian forward signed to a five-year, $25 million deal, Vegas secured their star and everything went back to normal. On top of that, Adin Hill came back with him, ensuring Vegas got their two postseason heroes locked up.

While Hill has been a roaring success, Barbashev has been placed under the microscope. More fans have looked at how he's functioned in different aspects of Bruce Cassidy's system. With that, let's look at where the center's strengths and weaknesses lie. Come on, Barby! Let's go party!

2. Ivan Barbashev's Weaknesses

One glaring issue with Ivan Barbashev has been his inconsistency. He is prone to cold streaks where he doesn't score a goal or an assist for a while. Now, when I say a cold streak, I mean ICE COLD, as in seven straight games without a point cold.

That played a major part in the center only scoring five goals and three assists in the first two months. Fortunately, Barbashev has picked up the slack in the past couple of months. However, he's still prone to offensive dry spells that can hurt the team.

If Ivan Barbashev can start scoring on a regular basis, that means a world of good for the Golden Knights's chances of another Stanley Cup. That's especially true once his partner-in-crime, Jack Eichel, returns to the fold. Imagine how tough Vegas would be with the duo clicking on all cylinders.

3. Ivan Barbashev's Grade

Ivan Barbashev has proved himself to be an excellent two-way forward. He plays his game and expands it to all 200 ft. of the ice, making him a force at every turn. That has led to him being slotted anywhere in the lineup, where he thrives in any spot. The former Blue has also proven to be a special teams asset, where he makes his mark on the power play.

All Barbashev needs to do is score regularly. Breaking out of seven-game slumps and getting himself into Bruce Cassidy's offense will help the cause. It will also boost other aspects of the Golden Knights, including the power play. If he can do this, the Vegas Golden Knights can bank on repeating as Stanley Cup champions and owning the Pacific Division again.